Thomas wanted a simple, stable existence, but saddled with unemployment, an absentee girlfriend, and the impending unpaid rent, change is hurtling down on him whether he likes it or not. Following the sudden murder of his strange elderly neighbor, He awakens on wrong side of the Veil transformed into a mountain lion and thrust into a dangerous world of magic.

Thomas must team up with a disgraced Inquisitor and a pyromaniac squirrel to dodge the fate pushed upon him by haughty mages, manipulative union leaders, and violent werewolves. Does Thomas have the will to take control of his life through wit and claw to become the first Freelance Familiar?

Off Leash is the first book in Daniel Potter’s Freelance Familiars series, a humorous adventure story beset by immoral mages and fast-talking animals. If you enjoyed the Dresden Files and want an overtone of Discworld, you’ll love this rollicking urban fantasy adventure.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

One of the most enjoyable books I've read in ages. Superb characterization, a complex twist-filled plot, a unique setting, and lots and lots of action. What's not to like?

-Phil Geusz, Author of The David Birkenhead Series

"Consistently entertaining, slightly silly, and all around light-hearted tongue-in-cheek fun...though not entirely devoid of grimness! We enjoyed Off Leash's quirky and irreverent tone, and overall we laughed at its absurdity far more often than we rolled our eyes at it."

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This is the writer's first book? It's great and he definitely needs to write more. Thomas is such a nice young man, in love with a part time girlfriend and rather kind to others including his strange old neighbor. The old man often sits in the local coffee shop and stares at him, which he finds unnerving but Thomas makes allowance for his advanced age and gives him a smile. On this particular day as as they leave the coffee shop together, a horrible thing occurs, a speeding car aims at them striking the old man. Later when Thomas comes to, a even more shocking event happens when he realizes that he has the body of a 200 lb cougar. Then things go downhill from there. Thank goodness that he regains his speech.

Poor Thomas everyone wants him but he refuses to become someone's pet familiar. He finds that there is a magical world coexisting with the normal human one, and now he's definitely on the wrong side of the line and there is no way back. Action, danger, magic, mystery, shocking discoveries, and daring escapes keep Thomas quite busy but throughout he maintains his ethics and personal honor. This is a really different idea than your normal paranormal, magical fantasy. Off hand the only other series with a familiar as the focal point that I can think of would be Dara Joy's "Rejar" and some others in her Matrix of Destiny Series. Unfortunately for Thomas, he has lost his human body at this point and can't switch back.

Off Leash was an exciting foray into the 'what if' of the animal kingdom - what if you suddenly get turned into an animal, with no rights, no knowledge of the vast magical world, and no thumbs? It takes the cougar-ified Thomas through a crash course in being a familiar, introducing us to a whole new dimension of magic that exists beyond the perception of mere humans. The various talking animals he meets along the way all seem to have their own agenda for him, and it was really exciting to see where everything would take him - I couldn't put the book down until I finished it.

Just finished reading “Off Leash (Freelance Familiars Book 1), by Daniel Potter. You really have to wonder where one’s mind has to be to come up with story lines such as these. This was like reading a Disney tale on steroids...pure entertainment, hands down, one of the most amusing books I’ve read in quite some time. I think one of my favorite parts of this book came in Chapter 32, when Thomas (the cougar), and Rudy (the squirrel) commandeer a Cadillac from werewolves they nearly blow up in a house...what a hoot! There comes a time when you just have to say “Okay, let’s do this” and just sit back and go along for the ride...and what a ride it was. This is my first read by Daniel, and I’m really looking forward to the second book in this series.

“This was no fantasy kingdom of wonder from a children’s book full of oddly flavored jelly beans.”:

Synopsis: “When Thomas Khatt awakens to the magical world following the sudden, violent death of his elderly Archmagus neighbor, he doesn’t get the standard package of awesome power combined with a hero destiny. Nope, he trades his thumbs in for a tail, tawny fur and four feet with a very low co-efficient of friction on linoleum. His destiny as one of three talking mountain lions in the magical world? To be sold at auction and bonded to some pimply faced apprentice for life.

Thomas would rather eat dirty kitty litter.

Armed only with an impressive set of chompers and buckets of snark, Thomas faces off against a lightning-bolt throwing granny and a sexy union recruiter as he desperately tries hold the threads of his old life together. To stay off the leash he’ll have to take advantage of the chaos caused by the Archmagus’ death and help the local Inquisition solve his murder. A pyromaniac squirrel, religious werewolves, and cat-hating cops all add to the chaos as Thomas attempts to become the first Freelance Familiar.”

I was pleasantly surprised with this story, Off Leash. It's well plotted, great characters, and held my interest. If this is the first book by Daniel Potter, he's off to a great start.

Thomas is down on his luck. He's jobless, trying to find work, his girlfriend is missing, and the rent is due. With the death of a neighbor his life is now changed. Whether it's good or bad, Thomas has to adjust and do it quickly. There's a death to investigate, unlikely friends, politics, and so much going on. Thomas learns just as we do about his life and new world.

The writing hit me as more young adult. No m/f interaction but just a past relationship for Thomas. There is adventure, goals, life altering changes, staying true to your ideals, and reaching out to do the right thing. The humor comes in a small quirky side kick that likes to blow things up. Even better was a little insert that was short but a deeper look at Rudy. Fun! I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. - Dan's Wife